Religion's fasting

#1

I heard that Bahai’s fast for 19 days in March, not eating from sunrise to sunset, also not drinking.

I believe Ramadan for Muslims is 3 weeks or so too, also with no fluids or food between sunrise and sunset.

My family haven’t followed any religious fasting periods so it is unfamiliar to me…but I believe Lent is a period for giving up some sort of foods? I have a vague memory that my grandmother gave up meat but I may be imagining it.

I’m thinking of trying it just to see how it goes, for a shake up. My fasting has been for health not for religious reasons, so I am quite ignorant in this area, apologies.

Anyone know about the rationale behind fasting without fluids in the daytime, what’s the benefit? I saw some info on a vid on a recent thread here that it increases autophagy. Is that research based?

I had always thought it very far out to fast without fluids but am rethinking based on the traditional component…it’s obviously been a part of some very major religions for a very long time. However they originated in the northern hemisphere, so springtime for fasting. Southern hemisphere now is autumn… and I wonder how much difference this makes, if any, physiologically.

(Marius the butter craving dude) #2

Fasting now presents different challenges than it did for our grandparents.
First thing is the fact that 100 years ago we did not have access to such abundance of refined carbs and carbs in general; eating only legumes meant fiber that lowered the glicemic index of the legume.
Giving up on all animal products only was for everyday people, but the monks do fast without any food for days.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

I am not convinced that dry fasting is necessary or valuable, but I am certainly open to exploring any relevant data.

The Baha’i and Muslim injunctions to dry fast are Scriptural, not medical. (I understand that the Arabic word used in the Baha’i Writings also means that smoking as well as drinking is prohibited during the fast.)

The Christian version of fasting and abstinence has been highly mitigated for the laity. It can have spiritual value to take on such a discipline, but I don’t see it as having any medical value whatsoever.

This is not to disparage fasting for religious reasons, just a remark that, as you yourself said, religious reasons and medical ones are different, and doing a fast for one reason probably doesn’t add much value in the other domain. I say this as a former Baha’i, a devout Christian, an ex-monk, and someone with a great deal of respect for Islam, so I hope none of this sounds at all disrespectful to anyone!

#4

Doesn’t sound disrespectful at all, thank you for the response.

(Omar) #5

there is a very rich topic going on on dry fasting in this forum

#6

I was wondering if anyone had some information based on their own fasting for religious purposes. Today is the beginning of the Bahai fast for 19 days and I was surprised to discover it is a dry fast from sunrise to sundown. Those I have spoken to are doing it not for health benefits but for their religious practice, so I wondered about the difference that makes and in a week or so hope to have some information

Thanks Alpha.
Ketoers fasting are doing it for health, religious people fasting are doing it for their spiritual well being, for a set time frame.

I am interested in the different motivation… and whether it makes a difference in sticking with it.

I would imagine it would but have seen no evidence of that.

I thought I would give it a try but was unable to give up coffee even for a morning today. So, I am not sure how people can manage a whole 19 days with no water or coffee during the day.

(Omar) #7

There is a big difference.

people do it for religious reason care about relegion and making their God happy more than health.

people fast for health reasons that all what they focus about.

while I can not generalise I have seen many Muslim societies convert day to night and night to day. That is they sleep most of the day and stay awake most of the night when dry fasting.

Also when breaking the fast very large amount of food introduced suddenly including lots of sweets and fruit juices.

and many people gain weight.

at the other side I have seen lots of people with health issues refuse to take medicine during the fast leading to more complications caused by dehydration specially people who need physical work to earn their living.

while people doing dry fasting for health will not have to go thorough that and they will listen to their body.

I am not saying religious fasting is bad but the way people implementing it is bad when it becomes a habit and fulfilling religious requirement with the health not being priority.

#8

Thanks Alpha.

(Lesa Morey) #9

This is the first year I’m doing my Baha’i fast being fat-adapted. It’s a lot easier! Breakfast is heavy on fat: eggs, bacon, avocado and what the heck a fat bomb too! Strict keto for a few weeks beforehand may be the way to go from now on!

#10

Thanks Lesa!!! :slight_smile:
Hope it continues well.
In the southern hemisphere we are still having very early sunrises and late sunset…daylight saving. :slight_smile: